Home Improvement
Since we’re not in the throes of football season, we have a little time on our hands during the spring and summer weekends.

We decided to undertake some of the many projects we’d been putting off, pacing ourselves over the spring and summer months to get lots accomplished without burning ourselves out on the first project and never accomplishing anything.

Because we’re totally prone to procrastinate.

Well, mostly Will. Never me. (Haha)

We’ve redone our closet, done major yard work, and restarted our Aerogardens. We’ve got some more projects lined up this summer so here’s to keeping the momentum!

Oh and the Aerogarden? I’m growing kale and it’s the best decision I’ve made with this thing! I use greens everyday for my morning smoothie and it’s thrilling (yes, thrilling) to get to pluck my own leaves from my own garden.

Oh and since we’re still talking home stuff we had another snake sighting.

Pretty sure we’re officially selling the house now. 😂

Softball is in Full Swing!
Well, actually, it’s kind of winding down.

Spring ball was lots of fun for Will. I didn’t go to several games because many started at 9:30.

As a complete granny, 9:30 is past my week night curfew.

I’m sure you don’t understand.

Summer ball is around the corner, and I know Will is playing. He’s cute because he’s pretending to be somewhat on the fence about playing- but we both know he totally is.

Funny story.

Will plays coed softball and they’re always short girls. You have to have a certain amount of girls present in order to play.

One week they were short, as usual. They were desperate and it was a few minutes before the game.

I felt them staring me down, contemplating how they could legally physically drag me through the dirt and lay me in the outfield as their token final required girl.

I felt my body begin to tense as they approached.

Oh- and as a side note, incase you’re wondering why I dreaded the thought of playing?

It’s because I don’t play.

I’m a wilty flower.

No concept of sports.

Do I need to remind you I HATE BEING HOT?

Also, I have complete hands like pans.

You’d find me ducking to avoid the ball rather than diving to catch one.

I’m that girl.

Picking flowers in the outfield.

Afraid to get dirty.

No concept of batting or catching.

Please, for the love of God, don’t make me play!

Anyway, they approached me and another girl beside me I knew with the dreaded request.

A daughter of one of the players was sitting with us. A big tomboy and softball fanatic herself. She looked at them and said, “ She’s not going to play! She’s too pretty to play!”

I’m pretty positive that was not a complement, but she was right- I was NOT going to play.

I do, however, go and show my support. That counts for something, right?

Curly-Q
34 years into life I decided to master the curling iron.

I used one occasionally “back in the day,” but for the last 13 years or so only used a straightener to curl my hair.

Yes, I realize it sounds counter intuitive.

Anyway I did tons of research and ended up with a regular old gold Hot Tools one inch barrel curling iron.

It’s fantastic, and super affordable. Plus my stylist said it was a good choice. So yeah! Mid-30s and curling my hair with an actual device made to do just that. Go figure!

Wherein I rave about grocery store food
I went to Boston last month for work. Aside from one night, all my dinners came from the Wegmans deli.

Yep, the local grocery store.

If you have a Wegmans, you get it. If you don’t, you probably just think I’m weird.

All About That BOD
Are any of you guys Beachbody On Demand subscribers?

I signed up for the free 14 day trial to participate in Shaun-T with my blogger friend/Beachbody Coach, Erin.

It was so much stinkin’ fun! Well...fun if you enjoy being miserable and sweating your butt off during workouts, that is. Haha

I still have my gym membership but workout still home so much these days and could easily see myself buying a year subscription to it.

It’s got something for everyone and content is always updated which is good too. Definitely a win!

Other randomness
*We took an impromptu trip to Tulsa this month just to eat lunch at this delicious Mexican restaurant we enjoy.

We’re old fogies, so to up and decide at 10:00 on a Saturday that we’d go up there was spontaneous and fun. Haha

*We finished Fraiser for the second time and are back to The Andy Griffith Show.

Yes, real life. Black and white and all. We mostly only watch one a night as a “filler” with all our shows on break.

What I love most about watching Andy is that Will grew up watching them and knows so many of them. It’s so cute and reminds me what an oak tree he is.

*Amazon Prime music had pretty much been the best thing that’s happened to me.

In terms of music, that is.

I have the unpaid Spotify version which is nice, but I love Amazon because you can skip as many songs as you want- and no adds. The only downer is their selection is more limited than Spotify. But.No.Adds.And.Unlimited.Skips

*Mason jar salads have changed my life. I realize I’m about four years late to the party but…

Good old Jimmy continues to kick my tail, & other related things

Guys, it’s JUNE and I just now reached chapter 5 in my study of James.

This book…

When I first felt the tug to choose it as my 2017 study, I honestly didn’t think there’d be much new to glean.

You know, since I’m so perfect. Ha!

I’ve allowed myself days upon days to sit in some of these passages, digging deep and really meditating on just how much I needed to read the words before me.

I’ve been so convicted over how I approach my life, how I speak, how I see others, and more.

If you want to be humbled in virtually every major aspect of your personal and social life, study James. I say it jokingly, but also seriously.

Wherein I started this in June and now it’s July. Ha!

Other randomness to catch you up:

So I started typing this last month and am already behind. 😊 Layla turns (or turned depending on when I get this up!) 5 on the 5th, so I’m pretty much dead she’s already a kindergartner.

It’s pedal to the metal today with no real direction, so you’ve been warned!

Did I tell you guys we went to Houston last month?

I probably didn’t because not only was it a whirlwind trip, but the Sooners lost and we didn’t do anything exciting.

In fact, we drove the 8 hour trip Friday and did it again Sunday. Whew! It was tiring!

Mostly for Will, as he drove the entire time because I’m a terrible driver he prefers to drive.

Anyway, I anticipated being a terrible copilot, as I have a hard time staying occupied in contained spaces.

I did surprisingly well! I think it’s because I’ve taken a few longer car trips in the last two years. I saved up tons of magazines and blogs to read along the way, and listened to a ton of podcasts I’d been saving.

Plus we had a free trial of XM radio, so Will could listen to sports while I self-occupied.

A win for everyone.

Until he found the Garth Brooks channel.

That was not a win for everyone.

What also wasn’t a win, was the game.

No need to talk about it other than the fact that we sat in front of Houston fans and I had beer spilled on me not once, but twice.

I thought Will was going to become completely unhinged the first time it happened, but I was wrong. He came unhinged the second time.

Sigh.

Sadly we had big plans to eat a nice dinner at Shula’s and enjoy the town but we were both exhausted from the long day of driving and then the loss took the wind out of our sails. We ended up eating at the hotel restaurant watching more college football.

So yeah! Fun times in Houston! Haha

Since we’re still (sort of) talking football...

Will and I decided to make a football season bucket list this year with all sorts of random ways to maximize our most favorite time of year.

This season goes too fast, and we felt it was a good way to enjoy it all the more.

Nothing fancy, but still fun.

We started with an impromptu date night to our local Applebee’s last Friday.

If you’ve seen the commercials, you know they do half-priced appetizers after 9:00.

We thought it would be fun to do a VERY late dinner (on a very long side note- I love the idea of late dinners. They seem so sophisticated and glamorous compared to our usual AARP early bird dinnertime. With that said, though, I am always famished early in the evening and could never make it to a 9:00 dinner without some major preplanning. I’m such a granny) and watch some of the OSU-TCU game.

Except…

We were both super hungry and ready to eat when we got there only to find out half price appetizers begin at 9:00 Monday through Thursday but 10:00 Friday through Sunday.

Real life.

The good news is that dinner worked out better for me! I ate far healthier ordering off the regular menu than the appetizer menu.

Turned out to be a great night! Albeit a super casual dinner in our comfy clothes, it still seemed “glamorous” since I made it to 9:00. 😊

So yeah...one checked off the list, more to go!

Annnnd we had another snake in our house

Real life guys.

We have a for sale sign in the house now, incase you’re wondering.

(Kidding...kind of)

This time, Will didn’t dilly-dally taking care of the snake.

It was promptly removed.

We’ll leave it at that.

Since we mentioned for sale signs...

You may remember, my parents live two doors down from me.

Only, at the end of September they sold their house and are moving up to the nesrby town where my sister lives.

I’ve taken it hard don’t want to get into it. Just mentioning it for posterity sake. I’m also going to miss seeing Layla so much! It’s always been so nice having her so close so often.

So yeah- there’s that! Here’s to hoping the new neighbors don’t mind me using their better wifi… #awkward.

Mrs. Benko would be proud

Waaay back in the 19 hundred and 90s (haha), I took piano lessons.

Real life.

Yes, they had pianos back then.

Anyway, I loved it at first. My young brain soaked up the scales, show tunes, and silly songs. However when I got into junior high, I started to hate it.

It seemed like a drag. It was work. I never practiced.

One thing led to another, and I stopped.

Flash forward many years later.

When my parents moved, they offered to give my my old Clavinova, which I obliged.

Why do I feel this isn’t going to be like riding a bike?

It’s fried jello time ya’ll

Well friends, it’s fair time. The Oklahoma state fair just wrapped up, with the Texas State Fair around the corner.

As usual, the menu is full of delicious fried concoctions that make my heart race just thinking about it.

I apologize to anyone I’ve texted in the the last two weeks. It’s been death by GIF. It’s like the junior high video game loving boy inside me has found an outlet in the form of annoying moving pictures to convey EVERYTHING!

Other things
The Lord has continued to impress some things on my heart to the point where I just have to say something, darn it. I plan on tackling those things in another post.

I didn’t even touch workouts or new music either, but I figure this is more than enough for a Thursday things. I suppose I can always do another one next week, yes? 😉

After all, we are reminded in Jeremiah that the heart is deceitful above all things, and the Lord searches and examines its depths.

I’ve been thinking a lot about what God sees when He looks at my heart.

Do I spend as much time on the inside of the cup as I do the outside?

I had Mohs surgery on my face to remove some potentially cancerous cells this past Wednesday.

I was a wreck the week after my pre-op and as I googled the surgery.

A word to the wise- don’t google worrisome things you’re facing in life.

Seriously.

You will lose sleep.

It’s pretty much a guarantee the most extreme cases or situations will be the first to come up in the search and will ruin you.

I was a wreck because I’m a woman in my 30s. While my best years are yet to be, let’s face it, I’m not shiny faced and 20 anymore. Makeup is a necessity these days and wrinkles continue to appear out of nowhere.

And now I have to worry about basal cells so early!?

The night after my pre-op (which was over two months before the surgery!) I googled and cried and googled and cried some more.

This went on for about a week each evening.

Will, dear Will, was no help.

He’s a guy.

To him there was a problem (possible basal cells) and a solution (the removal of said cells).

Yes, he’s right, but any woman knows there’s more that meets the eye. The worry of all the new spots they’ll probably find in the coming years (a result of my stupid decision to tan during my teens). A giant scar on my face.

One of my dear friends and prayer warriors completely got it. We cried together a lot that week and prayed even more. Her prayers were completely beautiful, true, and anointed. She reminded me of my value in Christ and that He bottles my tears and works for good no matter what.

Her godly prayers strengthened me so very much and the holy spirit used them to bring such peace during the painfully long time between my pre-op and surgery.

I had a of of time to think about my heart condition during the two months leading up to surgery.

There’s so much gunk and yuckiness deep in the depths.

Pride, jealousy, worry, entitlement.

Ugh.

Not only was I going to battle surgery and a scar on the outside, but I also needed some heart surgery on the inside too.

I’d like to tell you the inside surgery has been easier than the outside surgery, but I’d be lying.

It hurts to surrender to Christ.

Not because of Him- His burden is light.

But because of my own sinful nature and desire to rule myself and pursue my own desires.

Just as the doctor stripped away a layer of the bad cells on my nose Wednesday, the Lord has begun to strip away my own internal heart cancer layer by layer.

Pride, worry, spitefulness… The list goes on and on.

I can’t hide the scar on my face, it will always be there.

I also can’t hide my hurts before the Lord, He searches the depth of my heart and sears my soul with the promise He is ever present.

Just as my doctor took care to stitch me back together, the Great Physician, my Jehovah Rapha, heals my heart. He prunes away the things that dishonor Him, and fills me with more of His goodness.

My scar will take time to heal and will leave a daily reminder of what transpired. In the same way, my heart certainly also bears the scars of a heart broken by my own sinfulness and horrid decisions, only to be stitched together and healed by a God big enough to restore even the biggest of messes.

I’m not happy I had to go through this experience, but I am thankful for the reminder of where I’ve been, where I am, and where I’m heading as I pursue Christ.

To our continued healing, inside and out. 💗

***
On a much lighter note, I’ve taken several days off to recover and have not done a single thing.

Not even kidding.

It’s been the most uneventful and lazy few days of my entire life. Will and I are surprisingly really good at being completely worthless.

I don’t think that’s a good thing…

I’ve only gone out to see my mom a couple times (my sister and Layla stopped by too!). I also went through a drive through twice, but that’s it.

I have church tomorrow and was a little apprehensive about going at first. You should have seen the awfulness of Will and I trying to appropriately bandage my face. 😂

Attempt number one

Attempt number two

😂

At this point I was having a complete meltdown. Thankfully Will went to the drawing board and engineered attempt number three, which was much improved over the previous two.

I get my stitches out Wednesday and am so ready! Thankfully attempt three made me feel slightly less garish.

I’m sure Will would agree- this staycation has been incredibly dull, but it’s still been nice to be together and heal up.

You know, since Thursday is completely organized and full of useful knowledge.

Let’s talk about the ridiculous amount of movies Will and I have been watching in the man cave these days.

I find I often don’t have the attention span for movies, especially multiple ones each week.

Will?

He does. He totally does.

Even during the work week.

I just can’t.

I don’t know why, but a movie during the work week feels a little like entertainment suffocation.

Not only that, but the man cave feels a bit like a furnace.

You get the playstation going, the cable box, and then the big TV all generating heat and hot air (even more than me. Ha!) Yikes.

Then the pups. They love to snuggle on these chairs.

It’s easily a thousand degrees.

Couple that with the aforementioned entertainment suffocation, and a random Tuesday night can quickly turn into a scratchy wool sweater.

Thankfully Will is very accommodating, always being sure we end our nights with a 30 minute comedy or two to change things up.

When all else fails, though? Not only are his chairs great for comfortably watching movies. They’re even better for naps!

You know by now we’re old and boring, so why not take it step further and be cozy while boring, yes?

So yeah. That’s life at the B-Love house these days. If you’re free this week we’ll be having a showing of The Empire Strikes Back followed by some sports inspired motivational feel good feature film. Come on by. Popcorn not included.

Jurassic Park (which was way better than I thought it was going to be!) date Friday night, women’s World Cup soccer, workouts, quiet Saturday mornings, food prep, a night with my family, hungry hungry hippos, movie night on the couch with Will, church, lunch to discuss life groups, and a quiet Sunday evening.

Check in this week for WIOW, Thursday Things, an ipsy review (if I manage to try and form an opinion on everything!), and more.

Monday Monday and lots to do. Lucky for me I have a short week ahead! Here’s to a great day!

He’s making us rotate the chairs we sit in each night to make sure they all get “even wear.”

Real life.

In his defense, he’s waited years for these, so I kindly oblige without too much ribbing.

The only complaint is that sometimes in the rotation we sit on opposite ends (😂 ), and I’m
not a fan of that.

At all.

Friends in Low Places
I am so thankful for the beautiful godly people in my life. One of my dear sister friends completely shared in my heartache last week (see Friday’s post) as if she were going through it herself.

We sat on the phone and prayed together and cried together (actually, I didn’t cry. I ugly cried. I was glad we were on the phone so she couldn’t see the mascara everywhere and running nose. Ha!). God is so good to me, and giving me godly friends who love me and hurt with me when I’m sad, and are excited for me when things go well, is such icing on the cake.

When slight really means huge and probable

The weathermen in Oklahoma are killing me this storm season.

They have this new, improved, ever-so-helpful updated severe weather guide that’s supposed to depict a better understanding of the types/probability of storm risk in various areas.

When you see the words slight, what comes to mind?

I’m thinking like 25% chance or less, maybe?

Definitely not that you’re darn near guaranteed to have a storm (one with hail and occasional tornadoes). Which has pretty much happened every single time that stupid yellow “slight” risk is tagged for the metro.

I’m not sure if they’re tired of getting slack for claims they overreact too much or what, but basically when I see slight, I really see moderate these days.

You didn’t know I was such a weather “expert,” did you? Haha

Today’s TBT is courtesy of returning from church camp completely exhausted

We had a fantasticly long holiday weekend. I am so blessed to have such wonderful people around me.

Thursday was spent cleaning and doing house stuff. We also made time for a sonic break and a quick snack.

On Friday we travelled to southwest Oklahoma and spent the day with Will’s grandparents. We went to Hobart, Oklahoma and visited General Tommy Franks’s museum, ate lunch at a local shop, and checked out a quilt show. We even made time to visit with my parents and pick up our freshly groomed pups.

Saturday was supposed to be cleaning the closet day, but we ended up getting our theatre seats delivered! We ordered them a few months ago and we were excited to get them! Will spent the better portion of the day putting them together, and I had to drive up to the furniture show to get some missing parts. So yeah, there went most of Saturday! We enjoyed the chairs with my parents and ordered the MMA fights.

Sunday was spent at church and meeting new friends, which was nice. We also cooked out with my family and celebrated my sister’s big engagement!!!! More to come on that this Thursday.

Yesterday was much more low key. I basically spent all day doing everything I hadn’t done over the weekend! Food prep, dishes, laundry, fun times.

It was such a wonderful weekend and I’m sad it’s over. Lucky for us, we’ve embarked on a short week and are already a day down!

A loaded weekend! Garage sale (which was a complete bust because of bad weather ), lots of fun family time and meals together, more garage sale action Saturday, house stuff, workouts, meal prep, relaxation, early Mother’s Day celebration, and church.